FLORISSANT, Colo. -
Colorado wildlife officers killed a deer that gored a woman who officers say was trying to pet it.
Joan Nutt, 63, told authorities the deer attacked her Monday while she was visiting her sister in Florissant, about 100 miles southwest of Denver. Her sister's family was familiar with the deer and said it was a frequent visitor to the property, according to Michael Seraphin of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Officials say Nutt apparently called the deer in an attempt to pet it. The deer got close, lowered its head, and charged the woman.
Seraphin says a motorist saw the deer stomping her and stopped to assist. That person was able to scare the deer away and contact the Teller County Sheriff's Office.
When medical emergency workers arrived, they said the buck continued to come back to the area while they helped the injured woman.
Nutt was taken to the Pikes Peak Regional Medical Center in Woodland Park where she was treated for lacerations from the deer's antlers and hooves. Most of her injuries were to her elbow and lower arm, but she had cuts and bruises in other places.
State wildlife officer Aaron Flohrs says there's no evidence that Nutt was trying to feed the deer, but its behavior indicates someone had been trying to treat it like a pet.
The deer was tranquilized and euthanized. It was then sent to the Division of Wildlife health lab in Fort Collins. The deer was deemed a threat to human safety.
"No matter how many times authorities warn people about the dangers of feeding wildlife, some well intentioned people do it, and end up getting injured when the animal turns on them," said Shaun Deeney of the Division of Wildlife. "In this case, Mrs. Nutt was very fortunate a Good Samaritan stopped by to help her. A large buck deer can severely injure, or even worse, kill a person in a few seconds."
Wildlife professionals warn that deer or elk can be dangerous anytime, but the males are extremely dangerous when the mating season approaches.
In September, a 47-year-old woman was attacked by an elk near Evergreen. She was hospitalized with a broken pelvis. The elk in that attack was not found.
Joan Nutt, 63, told authorities the deer attacked her Monday while she was visiting her sister in Florissant, about 100 miles southwest of Denver. Her sister's family was familiar with the deer and said it was a frequent visitor to the property, according to Michael Seraphin of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Officials say Nutt apparently called the deer in an attempt to pet it. The deer got close, lowered its head, and charged the woman.
Seraphin says a motorist saw the deer stomping her and stopped to assist. That person was able to scare the deer away and contact the Teller County Sheriff's Office.
When medical emergency workers arrived, they said the buck continued to come back to the area while they helped the injured woman.
Nutt was taken to the Pikes Peak Regional Medical Center in Woodland Park where she was treated for lacerations from the deer's antlers and hooves. Most of her injuries were to her elbow and lower arm, but she had cuts and bruises in other places.
State wildlife officer Aaron Flohrs says there's no evidence that Nutt was trying to feed the deer, but its behavior indicates someone had been trying to treat it like a pet.
The deer was tranquilized and euthanized. It was then sent to the Division of Wildlife health lab in Fort Collins. The deer was deemed a threat to human safety.
"No matter how many times authorities warn people about the dangers of feeding wildlife, some well intentioned people do it, and end up getting injured when the animal turns on them," said Shaun Deeney of the Division of Wildlife. "In this case, Mrs. Nutt was very fortunate a Good Samaritan stopped by to help her. A large buck deer can severely injure, or even worse, kill a person in a few seconds."
Wildlife professionals warn that deer or elk can be dangerous anytime, but the males are extremely dangerous when the mating season approaches.
In September, a 47-year-old woman was attacked by an elk near Evergreen. She was hospitalized with a broken pelvis. The elk in that attack was not found.
